Texas Rangers - TeamReport

Josh Hamilton left the Rangers' 5-1 loss to Minnesota on Friday with a back spasm the likes of which he'd "never felt before."

Question: Does it put the All-Star Game in jeopardy for Hamilton?

"I'm not really as worried about the All-Star Game as I am about playing (Saturday and Sunday)," he said. "I'll wake up (Saturday) and see how it feels. I'll reassess everything. Hopefully I can play (Saturday). I'll know when I wake up in the morning. If I'm a little sore, that's fine. If I'm having trouble moving around, that's another thing."

Hamilton was hurt while going back on a Brian Dozier's fly ball to left in the fifth. As the ball approached the wall, Hamilton reached up and had it glance off his glove for a three-base error. As Hamilton retrieved the ball and threw it in, he winced, reached for his back and spent the final moments of the inning somewhat bent over.

When his spot came up in the bottom of the inning, Leonys Martin replaced him.

Rangers manager Ron Washington said Hamilton's status was day-to-day.

The issue is that Hamilton is dealing with a spasm in a new spot. He said after the game that most of his past spasms have been in the mid-back range. He said the Friday spasm scared him because he felt a bit of immediate weakness in his legs, but after leaving the game, he iced the back several times and felt some improvement.

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MLB Team Report - Texas Rangers - NOTES, QUOTES

--LHP Martin Perez, making just his second major league start, managed to log his first quality start despite a shaky first couple of innings. Perez was victimized by a third-inning error by 1B Mike Napoli, who dropped a popup, leading to a pair of unearned runs. Perez stuck around to pitch six innings and allow just four runs (two earned).

--C Mike Napoli's season-long slump continues to deepen. He was 0-for-3 with a walk Friday. He also extended his streak of hitless at-bats with runners in scoring position to 21 since June 6. For the season, Napoli is hitting just .190 with runners in scoring position. While Napoli's overall statistics all seem to be similar to where he was at this point last season, the difference is he has more than 100 more at-bats than at the same time last year.

--Though he has several struggling players in key run producing spots -- notably DH/1B Michael Young, OF Nelson Cruz and C Mike Napoli -- manager Ron Washington said he has no plans to make any changes to the lineup. "We're going to continue to give them all the work and keep on them," Washington said. "If they are struggling, though, moving one of them from five to seven and one from six to five isn't going to fix anything. They have a track record. They are the guys who are either going to get it done there or not. We are going to ride it out."

--RHPs Alexi Ogando (groin) and Neftali Feliz (elbow) are both scheduled to throw bullpen sessions Saturday, which could be the final step before they go on rehab assignments ahead of the All-Star break. It could put Ogando in position to return to the active roster when the Rangers return to action July 13 in Seattle. Feliz, however, is not eligible to be activated until July 18.

--RHP Colby Lewis is expected to throw off a mound Saturday for the first time since going on the disabled list with forearm tendinitis two weeks ago. If all goes well, Lewis is expected to be cleared to rejoin the active roster after the Rangers return from the All-Star break.

BY THE NUMBERS: 4 -- Consecutive losses for the Rangers against left-handed starters in the last six days. Minnesota's Francisco Liriano beat Texas on Friday, following in the footsteps of Chicago's Jose Quintana (Thursday), Chicago's Chris Sale (Tuesday) and Oakland's Tommy Milone (Sunday).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "We're like a submarine. We may sink, but we will resurface." -- Rangers manager Ron Washington, on his suddenly struggling offense, which has scored one or two runs in four of the past five games.

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MLB Team Report - Texas Rangers - ROSTER REPORT

MEDICAL WATCH:

--OF Josh Hamilton (back spasm) left the July 6 game. He is day-to-day.

--RHP Colby Lewis (right forearm tendinitis) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to June 24. He threw off the front of a mound July 5, and he is scheduled to throw off a mound July 7. He might be ready to return immediately after the All-Star break.

--1B Mitch Moreland (strained left hamstring) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to June 20.

--RHP Koji Uehara (strained right lat muscle) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to June 10. He played light catch for the first time June 22, and he threw off a mound July 4. He is likely out until after the All-Star break.